MUNSTER football champions Cork have made three changes in personnel for the match against Clare in Ennis on Sunday. Of the side that defeated Limerick in the first round a month ago, Brian Murphy drops back to the bench while Niall Cahalane and Donal O'Callaghan miss the match because of injury.
Into the team come Michael O'Donovan at wing back, Liam Honohan, returned from injury at midfield and Pat Hegarty at centre forward. Don Davis is listed on the substitutes' bench but wasn't seriously considered for selection because of a rib injury.
There are also a number of positional switches. The most significant are the adjustments to the defence. Captain Mark O'Connor moves from his customary full back position, which he has occupied the last three years, to right corner back. Brian Corcoran moves back a line from pivoting the defence to the edge of the square.
Back into the defence comes Steven O'Brien who has been alternating between centre forward and centre back this season. Though manager Billy Morgan has been enthusiastic about the direction O'Brien brings to the attack, injuries to defenders have forced the reversion of the influential Nemo Rangers player.
Honohan's return to midfield was predictable but there was no certainty about the other two newcomer. Neither O'Donovan or Hegarty are championship debutants but both have limited experience. O'Donovan came on as an early substitute against Limerick in Askeaton and acquitted himself well.
More persuasively, he had a fine match in the county championship for his club Mallow against Nemo. O'Donovan is a brother in law of former Cork All Ireland hurling winning captain Tomas Mulcahy.
Hegarty started last year's semifinal, also against Clare, in Pairc Ui Chaoimh at full forward but spent a forgettable afternoon being switched around before finally giving way to Mark O'Sullivan at half time. He played no subsequent part in the championship campaign.
Meanwhile, the GAA has announced new regulations to governs the movement of players between Ireland and the North American Board (NAB) area, which excludes New York. They feature a quarantine period, of 12 months, for players wishing to transfer to clubs in the area. During this quarantine, players will be eligible for temporary permission or sanction.
These sanctions will have to be obtained by anyone seeking to play in the NAB area and will not be restricted to students "or other bona fide persons" (Rule 41, Official Guide). Players will now be required to stay in the NAB area for 60 days, from the time they play in the US.
This will be enforced by prohibiting players who have obtained sanctions from returning to play with their home clubs in Ireland within the 60 days. County board secretaries must notify Croke Park when sanctioned players return home and resume playing.
Lists of players receiving sanctions will be publicised on a monthly basis to all GAA units and the media.
These proposals arise from recommendations made after the visit to the NAB area last month by Munster chairman Noel Walsh and his Connacht counterpart P J McGrath. The situation in relation to New York will be discussed at the next Central Council meeting but it is believed that similar provisions will be proposed.
. Mayo manager John Maughan has responded sharply to his side's less than impressive win over London in the Connacht first round. He has dropped six of the team goalkeeper Barry Heffernan, corner backs Kevin Beirne and Dermot Flanagan and forwards Pat Fallon, Michael Gardiner and Anthony Finnerty for the game against Roscommon. Ray Dempsey, who was a substitute in Ruislip, fails to hold his place. Anthony McGarr comes in at left corner back and several members of last year's under 21 All Ireland finalists are also named.
David Brady partners Colm McMenamon at midfield while David Nestor and Diarmuid Byrne join the attack at left wing and right corner, respectively.
Dempsey's omission is a surprise but his young Knockmore team mate Declan Sweeney keeps the full forward position in which he played in London.
. Among Waterford's debutants for Saturday's Munster football semi final against Kerry in Dungarvan is Niall Geary who played for Munster in this year's Railway Cup final and was a member of the side which handed Ulster their first defeat for eight years last March. County hurler Peter Queally is also named in the team, at centre forward.
